DP World Cochin Handles Record 8,000+ TEUs From a Single Vessel
Cochin:
Port Wings News Network:
DP World Cochin has welcomed MSC Ilaria, one of the largest container vessels to call at the port, marking a major milestone for the terminal.
The call recorded over 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled – including import, export and transshipment volumes– the highest volume ever achieved in a single vessel operation. This surpasses the previous record of handling 6000+ TEUs for MSC Aurora.
The arrival of MSC Ilaria underscores DP World Cochin’s ability to handle next-generation Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) and support growing trade volumes with efficiency and reliability.
DP World Cochin has significantly expanded its capacity with strategic infrastructure investments, including the introduction of new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, electrified Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (e-RTGs), and an expanded yard space—boosting the terminal’s total capacity to ~ 1.4 million TEUs. The terminal’s power infrastructure upgrades from 3 MVA to 5 MVA ensures seamless operations during peak demand, while the 100% electrification of yard cranes along with the in-house solar plant reduces the carbon footprint for cargo. These enhancements have strengthened DP World Cochin’s ability to handle larger vessels, improve productivity and ensure fast, more efficient operations.
Dipin Kayyath, Chief Executive Officer – Ports & Terminals DP World Cochin, said, “We are honoured to welcome MSC Ilaria and her crew to DP World Cochin. Handling a vessel of this scale for the first time marks a proud milestone for our team and reinforces the terminal’s role as South India’s premier gateway. It reflects our commitment to serving global trade efficiently, supported by upgraded infrastructure including new quay cranes, expanded yard space and e-RTGs, while enabling faster turnaround times and supporting growing demand.”
The terminal benefits from minimal deviation from international sea routes and proximity to key cargo origins in Kerala and Southwest Tamil Nadu, offering significant cost and time advantages to EXIM trade. It also provides strong coastal connectivity across India, from Gujarat to Kolkata, serving as a key transit point for cargo movement between the east and west coasts. DP World has also developed Kerala’s first Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) within the Cochin Port – the only facility in India to be co-located within a major port – supporting EXIM trade and driving regional economic growth.
Key specifications for the vessel:
Capacity: 16,616 TEUs
Overall Length: 366 metres
Beam: 51 metres
Deadweight tonnage (DWT): 171,079 tonnes
Maximum draft: 17 metres.
These dimensions reflect the increasing scale of global shipping and highlight the infrastructure required to accommodate larger container ships, as well as the growing size of vessels calling at Indian ports.
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